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By Tony Megahey

The renowned Wilkes northern racing family are sharing an exciting journey, and it continues at either Newcastle on Saturday or the Muswellbrook TAB meeting on Monday.

Taree training ace Wayne Wilkes and his apprenticed daughter Shae, with a super 23 winners in a debut season, despite adversity, combine with highly promising four-race winner Sixspeed ($16 on TAB for Newcastle) a dual acceptor at both meetings.

The five-year-old is one of the hottest prospects at regional tracks as he has accepted for the Newcastle Bus and Truck Hire Conditional on Saturday and also the Muswellbrook $40,000 feature, the Coolmore Denman Cup (1280m) on Monday.

Sixpseed (Shae Wilkes) returns after scoring at Taree. Image by Trackside Photography

Shae will ride him wherever her father elects to head.

Shae has ridden Sixspeed for a winning double at home track Taree last prep and impressively at Muswellbrook three weeks ago when resuming.

“I’m still weighing up our best options, we’re drawn the extreme outside in a decent field at Newcastle, drawn inside at Muswellbrook but disadvantaged by benchmark points if we win,” Wayne explained.

Sixspeed is destined for bigger occasions on Wayne’s judgement and 30-year training career.

“He’s really smart, always had a big opinion of him, the Kosciuszko was too soon this season but the way he’s progressed, he’d have been competitive,” Wayne enthused.

“Shae has the two wins on him, regular work, so the bond is there.”

Last start Sixspeed carried 57kg after Shae’s claim off 60kg.

At Newcastle Sixspeed has 60kg less Shae’s 3kg claim and the Supido five-year-old is allocated 55kg at Muswellbrook before her allowance.

The strength of his closing win at 1000m, extra distance and three wins on a rain-affected surface is compelling.

Shae has had a spectacular if mixed career start. At her very first race ride early March, she won on Wayne’s Cool Duke, at Tuncurry-Forster with his son Joel as strapper.

A life-time racing memory.

“Shae’s living her passions, ridden those winners and two months off with a shoulder injury after a fall at trackwork,” Wayne explained.

“The way she coped, came back riding with the same confidence and desire, made me proud. She’s a thinking, decision-making rider.

“Does the form thoroughly, there is plan A and if needed, plan B.  Never been an apprentice who just gets on, steers and hopes for the best.”

Shae while advantaged by the education and placement by her dad, has also been getting recognition and opportunities from the profile stables of Paul Perry, Cody Morgan and Luke Pepper.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Muswellbrook here